My dream kitchen is huge, with a large island, lots of counter space and a wall of windows facing west so I can watch the weather and the sunset as I cook and clean. Currently though, I have a small apartment kitchen with windows facing another building and east. I don't get up for the sun rise, so not much to look at. It works though for what I need so I can't complain too much. When I'm in my kitchen I can create so many different things.
From scrambled eggs to a sunday pot roast and malted chocolate cupcakes for dessert, I love finding new things to make. The best part is when I can share them with others. It's not that I don't enjoy eating them, but a whole batch of cupcakes for one person is kind of overkill. Even making a pot of soup requires forethought. I have to decide if I'm going to eat it as leftovers for lunch and dinner all week or if I need to get freezer bags and portion it out so that none goes to waste. Recently I have been only making desserts (my absolute favorite thing to do) when I have someone in mind to give them to. I just can't eat it all!
I decided to start this blog in part so that I will be able to access my recipes anywhere I am. I know, I could simply keep the recipes in my ipod, or email them to myself and put them in a folder for easy access, but this way I can post pictures of them and those that have tried them can attest to their taste (if they so desire). I can also just tell people this site when they ask for a recipe instead of having to find it in my email and send it, which I invariably forget to do anyway.
I figure the best way to start out is to post something I've done recently. The last time I got to bake for fun was for my Sunbeam class at the end of 2010. I made them sugar cookies and had my nieces and nephews help me decorate the extras. I got to leave all the extras at their house! YAY! Though I have been craving those cookies ever since and will probably be making more tonight for valentine's day tomorrow.
This recipe comes all the way from Ireland. It is totally delicious and simple. No refrigeration time needed for the dough! So great. I got it when I was there for Christmas visiting family in 2000. I love decorating sugar cookies and had so much fun watching my nieces and nephew decorate as well. We made trees, snowmen, stars, wreaths, it was so fun. The kids decided to marbelize the frosting colors on their cookies so they looked tie-dyed and I even made a snowman that was visited by the local puppy... We shared a lot of laughter over that one... I think this is my absolute favorite sugar cookie recipe ever.
Sorry to all out there with nut or gluten allergies, this one's not for you.
Almond Sugar Cookies
1 cup butter, softened to room temperature
3/4 cup +2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 2/3 cup flour
pinch of salt
+additional flour for rolling surface
Preheat oven to 350* F. Cream butter and sugar together. Beat in egg and extracts. Sift in flour and salt. Mix until soft dough forms. Roll out onto lightly floured surface to desired thickness (I do appx. 1/4"). Cut into shapes and place onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 6-8 minutes or until lightly browning on bottom. Cool and decorate with Almond Buttercream Frosting.
Almond Buttercream Frosting (from Cupcakes! from the Cake Mix Doctor, by Anne Byrn)
8 Tablespoons (1 stick) butter, room temperature
3 Cups powdered (confectioner's) sugar
3-4 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon almond extract
Place butter in large mixing bowl and blend with an electric mixer on low speed until fluffy (appx. 30 seconds). Stop machine and add powdered sugar, 3 tablespoons of milk and the almond extract. Blend with mixer on low speed until sugar is incorporated then increase speed to medium and beat until light and fluffy. Add up to 1 tablespoon more milk if the frosting seems too stiff.
